Saudi says unsure leaks reliable, won't comment

RIYADH Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would not comment on the U.S. diplomatic cables issued by the WikiLeaks website as it was unsure about their reliability.

According to the leaked documents, Saudi King Abdullah repeatedly urged the United States to attack Iran's nuclear installations, and was reported to have advised

"Saudi Arabia has no link to these documents or any role in their formulation and does not know about their reliability and would not comment about them," an unnamed Saudi foreign ministry official told state media.

"The kingdom's policies and positions are clear and well known," said the official, quoted by the state news agency SPA.

According to the leaked cables, top oil exporter Saudi Arabia offered to promote energy ties with China if Beijing backed sanctions against Iran.

The disclosure in the leaked cables that Gulf Arab leaders want Washington to destroy Iran's nuclear programme exposed long-hidden views. The leaks confirmed the depth of suspicion of the Shi'ites among Sunni Arab leaders, especially in Saudi Arabia, the leading Sunni power.

Iran denies accusations by Western world powers that it is using a civilian nuclear programme as cover for developing nuclear weapons.

(Reporting by Firouz Sedarat)

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